Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
Fort Wayne, IN
🏆 Allen leads 15 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444
Fort Wayne
Indiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allen, TX
Pros
Households earn $63,026 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
More college-educated — 55.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $390,200
Higher rents — median is $1,747/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $238k less ($152,500 vs $390,200)
Rent averages $843/mo less ($904 vs $1,747)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Allen
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Cons
Median income trails Allen by $63,026/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Median Income
$63,026
$121,259 vs $58,233/yr
Allen
Violent Crime
65% lower
106.4 vs 307.5 per 100k
Allen
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
Allen
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 84.1°F
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$238k less
$152,500 vs $390,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | Fort Wayne, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High | $152,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High | $904 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $58,233 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% ✓ Higher | 28.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | Fort Wayne Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F ✓ Warmer | 32.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 | 264,514 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 62.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 24.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Fort Wayne's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allen leads 15 of 23 categories. Allen wins 15 and Fort Wayne wins 8. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Allen to Fort Wayne or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $152,500 median home), income ($121,259 vs $58,233), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and Fort Wayne, IN are about 840 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.